Remember? It has traveled nearly close around the sun since Microsoft announced that it would suddenly use its AI-powered, automatic screen-based “photographic memory” software for Copilot+ PCS. Whether you want it or not, the feature will be restored, not only to use it, but also to be prepared for it, if you imagine any friends, family or colleagues plan to use it as well.
Microsoft's latest blog on Windows Insider Build KB5055627 includes a recall of the notes that were “gradually” to be launched to Beta users in the next few weeks. Just like Microsoft first showed in May 2024, please automatically screenshot most applications, web pages, or documents you use. The system classifies all these screenshots and then uses the device AI to parse the content on each screenshot. The user can then search for these screenshots and click once to return to these pages. If you're the kind of person who doesn't remember the webpage Jack used yesterday, that really seems like a pretty feature. We expect Microsoft to showcase the re-recall recall at a build conference that will begin on May 19.
However, there are many warnings about the recall. As detailed in Features About About Pages, recalls will eat up a portion of your storage space and dedicate it to the amount of rotation of the screenshot. By default, an SSD with 1 TB or more will be dedicated to this feature 150 GB. You also need to set the time you want your PC to store screenshots. You can change these settings under Privacy and Security in Recalls and Snapshots.
This is where the recall is violated, many privacy and security issues. Microsoft initially recalls memories when security experts discover obvious vulnerabilities in the software, these holes allow any user who accesses a PC to read excerpts from the AI. The program has no questions about screenshots of bank accounts, social security numbers, or any other sensitive information. Microsoft has returned to the drawing board, and now users need to register for Windows Hello Biotitric or Pin Security to access screenshots. Users can also pause screenshots or filter certain applications or specific web pages (although only for Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Chrome browsers). This may not be foolproof, as reports late last year showed that recall failed to detect when it was viewing bank information. This will be ensured by the user that every sensitive page they visit is in the unnecessary list.
Users will choose whether to enable or disable, remember that they first launched the device with a new update. To disable it, you need to search for “Open or turn off Windows features” in the Windows 11 taskbar and uncheck recall. Memories sound tempting to people with poor memory and poor file management capabilities. I've used the software several times in its original form, but it seems relatively simple and efficient, although as an AI search feature for all devices (see also Google Photos) you may find documentation you don't want.
This is a special focus for some security-centric Windows users. You can tell the recall to collect dust together with all other pre-installed Windows applications, but that doesn't mean that family members with lower technical knowledge will. Security blogger EM notes in a Mastodon post (via ARS Technica) that if you send any photos or sensitive information from that family member, they may scratch everything you text or send them, including family photos or passwords, or even know.
Users who care about privacy and security should not first uninstall sensitive information through unsecured text or email applications. Still, to be honest, most users won't be eager to migrate to signal chat when they're all stuck in discord or messenger ways. It should be clear that Microsoft should not expect every basic user to be a privacy expert. If the recall is recalled by default and it needs to be enabled in the settings, or if the user needs to download it as a separate app, the feature may be less. I might end up using the recall, but when I can use 150 GB of storage better in my game (in today's era, that's equivalent to a whole) Bauder's Door Three).
